Jun 30, 2013, 9:22 am
Last edit by: PTahCha
I am flying on LH, but the ticket was not issued by LH; it is a code share. May I use a paper GPU?
Yes, the terms and conditions printed on the paper GPU are explicit on this point. Note that starting in 2014, when PQD-based elite qualification starts for 2015, flights on LH metal but not on UA 016 ticket stock earn zero PQDs, so we hope these terms and conditions continue.
How soon should I attempt to request to be added to the upgrade wait list (aka as the grading list)?
Because LH policy is to not upgrade a pax if there are not enough meals for that cabin, and because catering, even in FRA, requires as much as three hours notice, you should plan to present your request 3.5 hours before the flight departs.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC, how many GPUs do I need?
Two.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can I be added to the upgrade list for BBB-CCC?
Policy says no. There have been exceptions reported.
Can I be added to the upgrade list over the phone?
Policy says no.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can the LH people there alert catering in BBB that I intend to upgrade BBB-CCC?
Policy says yes. In practice, it rarely works. There have been exceptions reported.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. AAA-BBB is not LH metal, BBB-CCC is LH metal. When I arrive in BBB there won't be any LH people airside to request addition to the grading list. What should I do?
Exit the airside area of BBB 3.5 hours before the next LH flight from BBB departs and head to the LH check in counter.
I have reserved a special meal. May I use a GPU and eat my special meal?
Policy says no. A special meal will prevent you from being upgraded.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL or FCT?
Yes.
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL?
Yes.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
Yes if not departing from IAD. In IAD you may be directed to the LH Senators Lounge , which is contrary to the Star Alliance lounge access policy and may not be official; see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20895856-post36.html .
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
No.
If I am connecting in a station that has an FCT, and I am departing on LH metal in F, may I use the FCT?
Yes.
What are my chances upgrading from J to F on LH metal?
In general, very good. The earlier you try, the better.
If I go to the airport the night before departure, can I be added to the grading list?
Policy says no, but there have been exceptions reported, such as someone who has an overnight layover.
If I go to the airport the day of departure, but before I am ready to check bags, can I be added to upgrade list?
Yes.
I am traveling on a fare class that is not explicitly listed as permitted or prohibited on the paper GPU. May I use my GPU?
If the fare class prices out to less than any one of the prohibited fare classes, then assume no.
If the fare class prices out to more than any one of the permitted_ fare classes, then assume yes.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be present when the upgraded is requested?
No.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be traveling on the same flight?
No.
Do I call the 1K desk or the MileagePlus service center to get a paper GPU?
The latter. If you try the former, it is likely the 1K agent will confuse this request with a Star Alliance upgrade request, and then tell you that your fare class is prohibited. Keep in mind that outside of M+, few UA employees have ever seen a paper GPU for use on LH.
What is the number of the MileagePlus service center?
See http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/mileageplus/contact.aspx .
Or call the GS/1K phone line and select the "MileagePlus Servicing" option.
I called that the MileagePlus service center and the agent had no idea what I was talking about.
Call again.
The new policy requiring the paper GPU certificate to match an LH flight number and pax name means I cannot have any "on hand" when flying a TATL on UA metal to and from Germany in case of irrops and rebooked to LH metal, right?
According to new policy, correct. However, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20728446-post248.html documents a case where the LH employee only cared about the pax name on the GPU matching the name on the ticket.
Are flights operated by Privatair dba LH eligible to use a LH GPU Certificate?
According to, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21655941-post362.html, yes.
Yes, the terms and conditions printed on the paper GPU are explicit on this point. Note that starting in 2014, when PQD-based elite qualification starts for 2015, flights on LH metal but not on UA 016 ticket stock earn zero PQDs, so we hope these terms and conditions continue.
How soon should I attempt to request to be added to the upgrade wait list (aka as the grading list)?
Because LH policy is to not upgrade a pax if there are not enough meals for that cabin, and because catering, even in FRA, requires as much as three hours notice, you should plan to present your request 3.5 hours before the flight departs.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC, how many GPUs do I need?
Two.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can I be added to the upgrade list for BBB-CCC?
Policy says no. There have been exceptions reported.
Can I be added to the upgrade list over the phone?
Policy says no.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can the LH people there alert catering in BBB that I intend to upgrade BBB-CCC?
Policy says yes. In practice, it rarely works. There have been exceptions reported.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. AAA-BBB is not LH metal, BBB-CCC is LH metal. When I arrive in BBB there won't be any LH people airside to request addition to the grading list. What should I do?
Exit the airside area of BBB 3.5 hours before the next LH flight from BBB departs and head to the LH check in counter.
I have reserved a special meal. May I use a GPU and eat my special meal?
Policy says no. A special meal will prevent you from being upgraded.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL or FCT?
Yes.
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL?
Yes.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
Yes if not departing from IAD. In IAD you may be directed to the LH Senators Lounge , which is contrary to the Star Alliance lounge access policy and may not be official; see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20895856-post36.html .
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
No.
If I am connecting in a station that has an FCT, and I am departing on LH metal in F, may I use the FCT?
Yes.
What are my chances upgrading from J to F on LH metal?
In general, very good. The earlier you try, the better.
If I go to the airport the night before departure, can I be added to the grading list?
Policy says no, but there have been exceptions reported, such as someone who has an overnight layover.
If I go to the airport the day of departure, but before I am ready to check bags, can I be added to upgrade list?
Yes.
I am traveling on a fare class that is not explicitly listed as permitted or prohibited on the paper GPU. May I use my GPU?
If the fare class prices out to less than any one of the prohibited fare classes, then assume no.
If the fare class prices out to more than any one of the permitted_ fare classes, then assume yes.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be present when the upgraded is requested?
No.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be traveling on the same flight?
No.
Do I call the 1K desk or the MileagePlus service center to get a paper GPU?
The latter. If you try the former, it is likely the 1K agent will confuse this request with a Star Alliance upgrade request, and then tell you that your fare class is prohibited. Keep in mind that outside of M+, few UA employees have ever seen a paper GPU for use on LH.
What is the number of the MileagePlus service center?
See http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/mileageplus/contact.aspx .
Or call the GS/1K phone line and select the "MileagePlus Servicing" option.
I called that the MileagePlus service center and the agent had no idea what I was talking about.
Call again.
The new policy requiring the paper GPU certificate to match an LH flight number and pax name means I cannot have any "on hand" when flying a TATL on UA metal to and from Germany in case of irrops and rebooked to LH metal, right?
According to new policy, correct. However, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20728446-post248.html documents a case where the LH employee only cared about the pax name on the GPU matching the name on the ticket.
Are flights operated by Privatair dba LH eligible to use a LH GPU Certificate?
According to, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21655941-post362.html, yes.
Update to Lufthansa (LH) GPU Certificate Request Process
Sep 2, 2014, 8:27 am
#511
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Since the BoSox and ChiSox won it, now it is the Cubs turn to take the Series. Go Cubs Go!
Posts: 3,685
Thats exactly what LH M&M members can currently do with valid UA reservations: you enter all the data in a form, it checks if you have evouchers in the account and processes the upgrades if I/O is available to LH.
It looks like this: http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18002
It looks like this: http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18002
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Sep 2, 2014, 2:07 pm
#512
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
I am a United flyer buying United 016 tickets and would like to be able to find flights with GPU upgradeable space on LH before ticketing, rather than having to guess what may be possible,
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Sep 2, 2014, 3:31 pm
#513
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
Otherwise it will be purchase, try upgrade, fail, refund. Repeat each day.
Flaw in the process as written. Hopefully there is more to this than described.
Flaw in the process as written. Hopefully there is more to this than described.
Sep 2, 2014, 4:08 pm
#514
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Greg
Sep 2, 2014, 4:41 pm
#515
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Agreed - I didn't mean to imply it's worse, but it's even more important to me under the new process. Under the old process I wouldn't roll the dice on an LH GPU upgrade because if it didn't clear, I'd much rather fly LX C (since I don't want to run that risk, I just book LX). But under the new scheme, I'd gladly book LH if I thought I could use a GPU to upgrade to F. And given 2x LAX-FRA flights, and sometimes +/- 1 day flexibility, it would be very helpful to know which flights had upgrade space open before booking.
Sep 2, 2014, 6:21 pm
#516
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 572
Is there an easy list somewhere of fares that are upgradeable rather than the list of fares that AREN'T upgradeable on .bomb? The Wiki statement on fares that cost more than x fare is really confusing without knowing exactly which fares are upgradeable. How does one ever plug in "I want X fare" and know that X fare is upgradeable without checking against the list of non upgradeables? Or is it just Y or J that is available to upgrade using GPU?
Sep 2, 2014, 6:26 pm
#517
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,092
Is there an easy list somewhere of fares that are upgradeable rather than the list of fares that AREN'T upgradeable on .bomb? The Wiki statement on fares that cost more than x fare is really confusing without knowing exactly which fares are upgradeable. How does one ever plug in "I want X fare" and know that X fare is upgradeable without checking against the list of non upgradeables? Or is it just Y or J that is available to upgrade using GPU?
Sep 2, 2014, 6:58 pm
#518
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Search for Star Alliance Awards
I am a United flyer buying United 016 tickets and would like to be able to find flights with GPU upgradeable space on LH before ticketing, rather than having to guess what may be possible,
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Sep 2, 2014, 8:38 pm
#519
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: a proud member of FT since 05-05-1998
Programs: DL, AF and KL - UA - *G
Posts: 2,239
Nothing of the proposed new process has materialized yet....
Sep 3, 2014, 10:16 am
#520
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Sep 4, 2014, 9:01 pm
#521
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Oliver, is there any way to search for LH Y to C(and C to F) upgrade award space in advance of purchasing a ticket? Does the upgrade space come out of O & I award inventory, or are there separate upgrade buckets? Do any websites display O & I inventory? Thanks in advance.
Sep 8, 2014, 3:48 am
#522
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: back to Europe
Programs: FB Plat for Life & Marriott lifetime Platinum
Posts: 236
Just ordered few more paper vouchers.. Not a single word about electronic one when i mentionned that to the UA desk...
I still would think the move is real but has been stop because of ..
an IT failure.... Pure speculation..
Eddy
I still would think the move is real but has been stop because of ..
an IT failure.... Pure speculation..
Eddy
Sep 15, 2014, 11:50 am
#523
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: UA lifetime gold, 1.8MM; Marriott lifetime Titanium
Posts: 494
I also just had two vouchers sent for close in flights. I have always liked the vouchers, but it is a pain now having to return and reissue if not used or my flights change, as they frequently do. I kind of hope that the electronic process is real, although I'm highly skeptical.
Sep 15, 2014, 1:09 pm
#524
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: a proud member of FT since 05-05-1998
Programs: DL, AF and KL - UA - *G
Posts: 2,239
If the cut off is at T-10 hours the new system will have a MAJOR disadvantage as most LH seats open up at the gate!
Sep 15, 2014, 2:22 pm
#525
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: UA lifetime gold, 1.8MM; Marriott lifetime Titanium
Posts: 494